Alright folks, today we’ve got two famous ones in the all-terrain tire world: the new Falken Wildpeak AT4w and the 4 years old now, Toyo Open Country AT3. Both are designed to tackle rough terrains, but which one really stands out when it comes to off-road performance, durability, and everyday driving?
Well its time to find out. Let’s take a quick look at the sizes of these tires.
Table of Contents
Sizes and Design
Both the Toyo Open Country AT3 and the Falken Wildpeak AT4w come in wheel sizes ranging from 15 to 22 inches, but the Toyo AT3 offers a wider variety with 154 total sizes compared to 94 for the Wildpeak. Additionally, the Toyo AT3 is generally lighter, with a weight range of 30 to 72 lbs, while the Wildpeak is heavier, ranging from 35.1 to 80 lbs.
This weight difference is due in part to sidewall construction. The Toyo AT3 uses 2-ply sidewalls, while the Falken Wildpeak offers both 2-ply and 3-ply sidewalls, with the 3-ply option featuring Duraspec technology for added durability.
When it comes to tread depth, the Wildpeak provides a deeper range, from 13 to 19.7/32 inches, whereas the Toyo AT3 ranges from 12.7 to 17/32 inches. This makes the Wildpeak a better choice for those needing more tread for off-road conditions.
For speed ratings, both tires offer similar ranges, including R, S, T, and H, but the Toyo AT3 includes a Q rating as well. In terms of UTQG ratings, the Wildpeak is primarily rated at 660 A B, with a few sizes rated at 660 B B, while the Toyo AT3 has a 600 A B rating, indicating slightly less durability.
For warranties, the Toyo AT3 offers a longer 65k-mile warranty for P-metric sizes, whereas the Falken Wildpeak provides 60k miles for LT sizes and 65k for P-metric sizes. However, for LT sizes, the Toyo offers only a 50k-mile warranty.
Both tires are 3PMSF-rated for severe snow conditions and carry M+S ratings, making them suitable for all-season use.
You can check out other averaged readings below.
| Specification | Falken Wildpeak AT4w | Toyo Open Country AT3 |
|---|---|---|
| Average Overall Width | 11.05 inches | 10.8 inches |
| Average Revs Per Mile | 651.5 | 654.2 |
| Average Tread Depth | 16.25 /32 inches | 15.12 /32 inches |
| Average Tire Weight | 56 lbs | 48.5 lbs |
| Average Max Load | 2725.15 lbs | 2911 lbs |
| Average Max Pressure | 64 psi | 61.8 psi |
A side note: I highly recommend you watch my video here first, to better understand both tires.
Tread Design
Alright, let’s kick things off by checking out the newer tire here.
The Falken Wildpeak AT4w might look similar to the older AT3w with its symmetrical tread pattern, but there are quite a few little tweaks worth pointing out.
First up, the big change is in the tread edges, which have gotten a bit more aggressive.
The lugs are scalloped, and the sidewalls are better optimized for flexing, giving you improved off-road performance when you air down the tire.
But when it comes to being “aggressive,” it’s missing stone ejectors—yeah, go figure!
Next, let’s talk about siping. The AT4w now has a less aggressive siping pattern, especially on the shoulders, where that wavy pattern is gone.
And with the absence of 3D interlocking sipes like we saw on the AT3w, wet performance takes a bit of a hit. We’ll get into that a little later.
However, the AT4w does add more biting edges, with shoulder lugs and those Z- and C-shaped blocks in the center. Even though it’s missing those stepped edges, these blocks come loaded with notches pointing in different directions for added grip.
You can compare this tire with its predecessor in greater detail here.
On the other side the good old Toyo AT3 remains same even this year. Hope its next version comes up real soon.
For anyone not familiar with this tire (yeah, there are still some out there), it has a pretty straightforward design with S-shaped lugs in the middle, flanked by lugs that might look F-shaped to you.
The notches are strategically placed to face all directions, giving you grip from every angle, though it’s not as aggressive overall compared to others.
The lugs come with full-depth interlocking sipes and reinforced bases for solid on-road stability.
The shoulder lugs are divided by prominent circumferential grooves and are tightly packed, with ridges between them acting like connectors to increase handling.
Plus, there’s a secondary layer of rubber underneath for even more support, making the Toyo AT3 super road-friendly.
The staggered shoulder lugs still add a little off-road punch, though.
Winter Performance
When it comes to winter performance, both the Toyo AT3 and the Wildpeak AT4W bring some interesting strengths to the table. The Toyo AT3 stands out on icy terrains, while the Wildpeak shines on softer snow.
So why Wildpeak takes the lead on snow? Let’s take a look at that first.
Well, the Falken AT4w is built to handle softer snow. With more offset edges, notches, and sipes, it creates better snow-to-snow contact—important because snow sticks to snow more effectively than it does to rubber. The Wildpeak also features aggressive shoulder and sidewall lugs that act like shovels, pushing snow backward and helping you maintain forward momentum.
Whereas the Toyo Open Country AT3 provides a narrower design which means it exerts more pressure per square inch. This allows it to cut through the ice more effectively, providing better traction.
Additionally, the Toyo’s rubber is more thermally adaptive, keeping its biting edges flexible even in freezing temperatures, which is crucial for maintaining grip on icy surfaces.
All in all, both tires perform admirably in winter conditions, and their 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) ratings are well-deserved.
Just to clarify, this rating means that these tires are at least 10% better at accelerating on snowy roads compared to standard all-season tires. It’s worth noting, though, that this rating doesn’t cover handling or braking, just acceleration.
Dry Performance
When it comes to dry performance, the Toyo AT3 takes the lead in my tests and those conducted by the CompareTheTire team.
Now there are several reasons for this, but I will focus on the main factors here.
First off, the central lugs on the Toyo AT3 are optimized for on-center stability and directional grip, which translates to better straight-line performance.
So, in our 60 mph braking tests, the Toyo Open Country consistently stopped about 1.5 feet shorter than the competition.
This quicker braking not only improves safety but also allows the tire to enter and exit corners more efficiently.
Additionally, the Toyo AT3’s shoulder lugs are more densely packed and feature ridges, enhancing stability. This means the tire responds quickly after turns and effectively maintains momentum.
On the other hand, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W doesn’t perform as well in dry conditions. Its heavier build, deeper tread depth, and more aggressive pattern contribute to increased rolling momentum, which requires more energy to stop or turn.
This extra weight and aggressive tread design also make the lugs more prone to bending during cornering. As a result, the Wildpeak A/T4W tends to understeer in our tests, taking longer to recover when the vehicle begins to rotate.
So, you’ll need to be a bit more cautious when pushing this tire to its limits compared to the Toyo Open Country AT3.
Traction Off Road
Off-road terrains present a wide range of challenges, from sticky mud that requires specialized tires to loose gravel and dirt roads that most all-terrains can handle easily. Let’s break it down by specific terrains to see how these tires perform.
Sandy Dunes
On sand, the key is to stay afloat without digging in, as digging kills traction. Weight usually works against you here, but surprisingly, the Falken Wildpeak AT4w performs better despite being the heavier tire.
This is mainly thanks to its optimized sidewall lugs and a malleable tread compound. The softer tread allows for a better footprint even with minor changes in air pressure, while the sidewall lugs cover a larger area, increasing the tire’s contact patch with the sand, helping it stay afloat.
On the other hand, the Toyo AT3 doesn’t quite match up. Its sharper sidewall design tends to dig more, making it less effective in sandy conditions.
Recommended Read: Are all-terrain tires good on sand?
On Mud
In muddy terrain, the smoother the tire can shed mud, the better. Mud needs to be evacuated quickly from the tread to avoid buildup, which can reduce traction.
That’s why here it makes sense why the Wildpeak AT4w takes the lead.
One, the tire has a greater tread depth, so more mud gets out at a given time.
Second, you get more aggressive sides on this tire, so there’s more effective scooping going on.
And third and most important, the Wildpeak AT4w doesn’t have ridges between the shoulder blocks like the Toyo AT3, so mud is able get out of the interconnected circumferential grooves much easily in comparison.
Rocky Terrain
When tackling rocky terrain, a tire’s durability, sidewall strength, tread composition, and biters all play a critical role.
The Falken Wildpeak AT4w checks all those boxes.
Its 3-ply polyester casing is incredibly tough, I mean it feels like its mud terrain level kinda tough.
Plus its chip resistant yet softer tread compound allows the lugs to flex and grip onto rocks effectively.
Moreover, its sidewalls are covered with biters, which really come into play when you lower the air pressure, helping the tire maintain traction and stay secure on uneven surfaces.
On the other hand, the Toyo Open Country AT3 struggles to match up to say the least.
It doesn’t offer the same level of grip, particularly in the longitudinal direction, as its biters are less flexible, and its sidewalls lack the aggressive lugs you’d expect for rocky terrain.
With only 2-ply sidewalls, it’s also more prone to punctures, which makes it less reliable when navigating sharp rocks.
I haven’t gotten any punctures with this tire lately though, but I don’t know it just feels less tough, just not as confidence aspiring you know.
Fuel Economy and Tread Life
Given its heavier weight and more aggressive tread, the Wildpeak AT4W naturally generates more rolling resistance, so it’s not surprising that it uses up more gas compared to the Toyo AT3. However, this extra weight comes from the tire’s stiffer and more chip-resistant rubber compound. Combined with its deeper tread depth, this gives the Wildpeak AT4W better overall longevity.
But, as with everything, there’s a trade-off. The stiffer rubber also means a bumpier ride, and the tire’s more open structure contributes to increased road noise, including groove resonance, hums, and cavity sounds.
In contrast, the Toyo AT3 employs what Cooper calls “Whisper Grooves” technology. The ridges between the shoulder lugs help block airflow, which reduces overall noise levels, making for a quieter ride.
Wet Performance
While the new Falken Wildpeak A/T4W might not offer as much traction as its predecessor, the AT3W, it still outperforms the Toyo AT3 when it comes to wet conditions.
The main advantage of the Falken Wildpeak lies in its superior siping structure.
They are relatively more flexible. And yes that has also a lot to do with its rubber too.
In contrast, the Toyo AT3 has a lower silica content in its rubber compound and fewer sipes, which becomes a noticeable drawback as the tire wears down.
To give you an idea, once the Toyo AT3 has worn down by about 40%, nearly half of its original siping disappears, which significantly reduces its grip and overall performance on wet roads.
But yes, keep in mind, that there’s no significant difference between these two tires here when it comes to hydroplaning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both the Toyo Open Country AT3 and the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W offer impressive capabilities, but they excel in different areas, making them suitable for varying needs.
The Toyo AT3 proves to be a strong contender for those who prioritize dry road performance and icy winter conditions. Its narrower design and thermally adaptive rubber give it the edge on ice, while its overall construction ensures stability and responsive handling on dry surfaces. It’s also the quieter option, thanks to its design that minimizes road noise.
On the other hand, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is the go-to choice for serious off-road enthusiasts. Its rugged build, combined with an aggressive tread pattern, makes it a formidable performer on muddy trails, soft snow, and rocky terrain. While it may use a bit more fuel and produce more road noise, the trade-offs are worth it for those who need a tire that can handle the toughest conditions.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either of these tires when it comes to all-terrain and winter traction. Your choice should come down to what you value most: dry and icy performance with a quieter ride, or off-road toughness and better snow handling.
If you’re still on the fence, it might be worth considering your typical driving conditions and whether you lean more towards on-road comfort or off-road adventure. Whatever your decision, both the Toyo AT3 and Falken Wildpeak A/T4W are solid choices that won’t disappoint.
